Good Old Days offers fun-filled weekend
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ST. IGNATIUS – For the 29th year, Mission Valley residents will gather to celebrate community at Good Old Days, a three-day festival jammed with family events.
Festival activities are headquartered at the Good Old Days Park just off Main Street in St. Ignatius from Friday through Sunday, July 22-24.
“It was started by Steve and Sandy Rose. They put together the town event just to get the local families together and have a good time,” organizer Janis Richter explained, “Seems to me that we are still going by that motto.”
Among the new additions to this year’s festivities are a tug-of-war, a Ferris wheel, a trout pond for children and a battle of the bands, which will feature four bands in total.
“I have a feeling the tug-of-war event will be popular,” Richter said. “Because the losing team will be pulled into a pit of mud.”
Following the Friday evening barbeque, concert and fireworks show, the 29th annual Buffalo Run half-marathon kicks off Saturday’s jam-packed schedule at 7 a.m., with 1, 4, and 7 mile runs beginning at 8 a.m.
For those not running, a pancake breakfast is offered at the St. Ignatius Senior Center from 7 a.m. to noon, ending just in time for the “largest parade in Lake County,” which will meander down Main Street at noon.
“I usually have about 100 participants and a lot of floats,” Debi McCollum, parade coordinator, said. “Main Street is usually lined solid.”
Awards will be given to first, second and third place entries. The overall parade entry winner will receive a trophy. Line up for the parade beings at 10:30 a.m., judging starts at 11 a.m. and the parade starts at noon. All are welcome, and there is no fee to enter.
“One unique aspect of our parade is that we have an emcee who talks about the different entries as they go by,” McCollum said. “And at the end, the fire trucks spray the crowds. The kids love it when it’s hot.”
Later in the afternoon, event-goers can check out the dog races, which begin at 1 p.m., or can try their luck at the trout-fishing pond. At 2:30 p.m., there will be a BMX bike race at the Good Old Days Park, where bicycle enthusiasts can also sign up to win a free motocross bike. The Second Annual “Wimp”ledon Tennis Tournament will be held on Friday and Saturday for singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
Capping off Saturday’s festivities will be the battle of the bands concert.
Sunday morning, volunteer cooks will get busy bright and early at the St. Ignatius Airport for the Good Old Days Fly-In, where a huckleberry pancake breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to noon. Free toy gliders will be given to all children who attend.
Young Eagles airplane rides for kids between 8 and 17 years of age, with their parent or guardian's approval, are free.
Helicopter rides to Mission Falls will also be available via Homestead Helicopters throughout the afternoon.
To end the three-day celebration, there will be a Good Old Days “Gospel Sing” and potluck at 6 p.m. Hotdogs and hamburgers will be provided, and guests are asked to bring a salad and/or dessert to share.
“The Good Old Days is a way to bring the community together,” said Richter. “It’s a fun family event.”
